What is the point of fasting?

RI_RS —

In school I was taught that the main reason for fasting was to empathise with the plight of the poor 


In college I was told that that was a very very small part of it. 


So whats the real point of it, and how do we make the most of it? What does the not eating and drinking part of it teach us?


Does anyone know of any good (philosophical) books on this topic? 


 


Cheers. 


Forum
General

You — Wed, 4 Jul 2012 - 00:27

Google seems to link to this article on it:


http://www.tasawwuf.org/basics/ghazali_fasting.htm


"plight of the poor" is something and easily digestable answer, but not the main reason.


The qur'an I think mentions that fasting has been ordained upon us like it was on the nations before us so that we may become ... with taqwa. which is translated as God conscious.


people also become more irritable, less patient when fasting, so patience is stressed. As is knowing that if you eat no one will know but you, so inner strength?


There is also regiment and breaking the routine, and putting things first instead of letting other things in life cloud them out.


ABove is all personal ideas and thoughts.


Northen Southener — Wed, 4 Jul 2012 - 07:51

[quote=Rawrrs_isarollingstone]


In school I was taught that the main reason for fasting was to empathise with the plight of the poor 


[/quote]


I was told this too - but never bought it.


I don't think the poor sit there thinking "only another three hours to go before I stuff myself full of kebabs, pakoras, samosas, chicken wings, spring rolls....." the list goes on and on.


For me the 'not eating' part is about building discipline. You can eat, there's no one physically holding you back from eating, but you won't eat even though you're hungry.


And the rest for me is a refresher course on what we should live like all year round. How we should be kind, submit to the will of Allah and so on and so on (it usually lasts until the second day of Eid but this year, I'll try to make it to the third day 😉 )


Gulz — Wed, 4 Jul 2012 - 11:26

 


Similar to a post above really.. The Quran teaches us and Hadiths similarly teach us about self restraint and self discipline.


Although we have 30 days there are 3 respresentations for the goals to be achieved which are in 10 day blocks.. first 10 days gets us Allahs Mercy, 2nd 10 days are for forgiveness and the last 10 days are for the Hereafter.


Now psychologically fasting will affect a person who aims to fast the whole 30 days:-


By the end of the first ten days of fasting you are deflating the balloon down to its natural shape; you will have a glimpse into your true personality. You are deflating the fluff out of your personality, and revealing the true face hidden behind the mask. Maybe you are angry? Maybe you are exhausted? Maybe you are easily irritated? Maybe you find yourself being suspicious of people? Maybe you are really sensitive? You will find Muslims getting into all kinds of very nasty fights in this period, not realizing what is happening in their personalities; their personalities are getting exposed. When you reach the end of that first ten days, introspect deeply to see how you feel and how you feel about things. Look at how you look at your near ones (family and friends). Look at how you look at yourself. Look at how you look at your relationship with God. Look at the mirror, for this special period is a mercy that you do not often get in your year.





By the end of the second ten days of fasting, you will have a sense of control over certain aspects of your personality, where you will have a strength that you did not have 3 weeks prior. Now, look at those issues you faced at the end of the first ten days, and figure out how to purify them out of your system or at least control them. That is, of course, if you have been honest with yourself. If you are being honest with yourself, you are witnessing a transformation within yourself. The first thing you seek in this period is the basic foundation of your relationship with God: you turn to Him. Tawba. Wash away the darkness in your previous choices; start by seeking His forgiveness.





By the end of the third ten days, you will have a great sense of control, and perhaps even a sense of exhilaration. You have developed a shield around your Iman. That shield is what we call Taqwa. The gates of paradise are open to you, and you should seek of its treasures. Aim high. You can obtain a palace of 70,000 rooms, with each room containing 70,000 doors to 70,000 additional rooms. But, why satisfy yourself with even 70,000 of those palaces when you can have wings? Why satisfy yourself with wings when you can be in His company and in the company of those with Him. Aim high. Seek all of these things, not just from the Hereafter, but also from the Here and Now.


In this month, seek the company of the best of words: the Qur’an. Look to the Qur’an to see what Allah is saying to you, by way of what He said to those before you, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon them.And, then as soon as Ramadan ends you will get thrown to the barking dogs. The world will return to its normal cycle, and most of the world around you is little more than the bark of a dog. Your instinct will be to respond in the ways you responded before. But, you now know you can control those “flaws,” though many people may forget and may return exactly to what they were before, as though Ramadan is a sort of break. But, you know you can control those “flaws,” so control them.





 


You — Thu, 5 Jul 2012 - 19:31

Another thing about ramadan: its not just having a fast.


A big part of it is keeping on fasting completing the month (rules permitting).


 


keeping going when you get tired of it after a few days is not always easy and a challenge.


Character building, patience.


Fasting does multiple things, especially when done as the month of ramadan.


Northen Southener — Thu, 5 Jul 2012 - 20:48

a friend of mines wife had a brain tumour once and an imam said fasting will help as the tumour will get starved and reduce in size (I don't know if there's any scientific evidence to back this claim - but it, along with medical treatment, seems to have fixed her)


Sephy (not verified) — Fri, 6 Jul 2012 - 09:10

Thats not how tumors work. I think it was the medical treatment more than anything.


The main point of ramadan and fasting, as far as im aware, is to bring a person closer to God (yes there are other benefits but lets stick to the main one). So how does not eatting or drinking bring you closer to God?


Well, think about it. When your fasting what are you constantly thinking about? FOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!! So if you're constantly thinking about Food, what are you NOT doing? Your not thinking of anything sinful or doing anything sinful. And because they say prayers offered in Ramadan are worth alot more (im paraphrasing) your praying more than normal. So the idea is if you go 30 days of praying loads and not thinking of doing anything sinful, chances are you may take some of these new habits with you after Ramadan ends and become a better person as a result.


Ergo Ipso facto columbo oreo you're becoming closer to God.


Suhail (not verified) — Fri, 6 Jul 2012 - 12:18

To spiritually purify your heart and mind, kind of like how you service your car every 12 months. Also to kick some of those bad habits and basically the bottom line...get in contact more with the deen and closer to Allah swt, chance for a fresh start 🙂


Also ramadhan is split into 3 parts eah setting out a specific goal.


RI_RS — Sat, 7 Jul 2012 - 00:43

Thanks everyone, I'm very grateful for your thoughtful responses. I just want to make the best of next Ramadan (i'A) 


Btw, Tite,


[quote=Titanium]


In all honesty I believe if people in poor places wanted to get somewhere they'd move somewhere where they get the right to be better than just poor. I know it's not easy, far from it but with every effort comes reward. A debate for another topic. I sometimes find it difficult to understand poor people because whenevr i see them I see no work ethic, no hard work, bad attitude towards society and very little self esteem and not very humble. 


[/quote]


Really? What kind of poor people are you talking about? Thats the way I see the 'poor' people in Britain, but not in the third world.


Oh and I can't wait for you to get into reading philosophy 😃


RI_RS — Sun, 8 Jul 2012 - 16:03

[quote=Titanium]


And I can't wait either i'll be asking you to search me some books to start off 


[/quote]


 


I'm so lame, I've already found out and ordered the books for one of my modules next year so I can read them when I'm bored this Summer :L 


RI_RS — Sun, 8 Jul 2012 - 16:08

[quote=Titanium]So sad... :p[/quote]


 


Haha I know, I'm so ashamed D: 


I'm doing loads of mods. 


For Philosophy: Global Bioethics


Virtue Ethics &


Philosophy of Psychology  


 


and for Theology: 


Cyber Religion 


Contemporary Sufi Movements


Christian-Muslim Relations


Islamic Spirituality


Set Texts ( Islam and the West)


RI_RS — Sun, 8 Jul 2012 - 16:13

[quote=Titanium]But u love it.... It's either philosophy or 50 shades or grey...[/quote]


Hm Intellectual stimulation or Trashy girly crap... 


 


RI_RS — Sun, 8 Jul 2012 - 18:01

[quote=Golden Darkness]


Hmm..I as thinking of going into Religion and Philosphy but what  kind of jobs can u get with these qualifications? 


[/quote]


 


None whatsoever. 


 


RI_RS — Sun, 8 Jul 2012 - 19:22

[quote=Golden Darkness]


 And what kind of A-levels do you need to do?


[/quote]


Oh, didn't see this. 


I did Religious Studies, Philosophy and English. 


LookingToSee — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 - 18:21

i was reading this article and it contains wisdoms of Ramadan, some of which were mentionned before


 


From the wisdom of fasting is that: It is an act of worship done for Allaah, in which the ‘abd


(servant) draws closer to His Lord by ....


And from the wisdom behind fasting is that it is a means of attaining Taqwaa...


And from the wisdom behind fasting is that the heart opens to contemplation and..


And from the wisdom behind fasting is that the person who has wealth is caused to realize the


blessing of wealth that...


nd from the wisdom behind fasting is that it trains one to curb the soul, and it gives one


strength to withhold his soul...


And from the wisdom of fasting is that the soul is broken down and....


And from the wisdom behind fasting is that the passageways of blood (in the body) become


narrow due to hunger and thirst,.....


And from the wisdom behind fasting are the health benefits that come as a result of it,....


 



i didnt quote fully, thats coz i really want you to check out the full article here:


 


From the wisdom of fasting is that: It is an act of worship done for Allaah, in which the ‘abd


(servant) draws closer to His Lord by abandoning the things that he loves and desires, such as


food, drink and sexual intercourse. So because of this, the truthfulness of his Faith and the


completeness of his servitude to Allaah become apparent, as well as his love for Allaah and


his longing for what Allaah has prepared for him (of good). This is since the one who fasts


does not abandon something that is beloved to him except for that which is greater to him


than it (which is Allaah). When the believer knows that Allaah’s contentment lies in the


fasting -which is abandoning those desires that he naturally loves -he will give his Lord’s


contentment precedence over his desires. So he abandons his desires no matter how much he


longs and yearns for them, because his delight and the tranquility of his soul lies in his


abandoning all that for the sake of Allaah.





And from the wisdom behind fasting is that it is a means of attaining Taqwaa, as Allaah says:





"O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before


you, in order that you gain Taqwaa." This is since a person who is fasting is commanded to


do the obligatory duties and to avoid sinful acts. The Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam)


said: "Whoever does not abandon false speech, acting upon that (false speech) and (acts


of) ignorance (i.e. sins), then Allaah has no need of him abandoning his food and drink."





[Reported by Al-Bukhaaree] So when a person is fasting, every time he desires to do a sinful


act, he will remember that he is fasting and thus withhold himself from that. This is why the


Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) ordered the person who is fasting, when cursed at and


abused, to say: "I am fasting", cautioning him (the reviler) that a person fasting is


commanded to refrain from cursing and reviling, and reminding himself that he is fasting and


cannot react with cursing.





And from the wisdom behind fasting is that the heart opens to contemplation and


remembrance (of Allaah). This is since fulfilling one’s desires leads to heedlessness and


perhaps the heart becomes hardened and blinded from the truth. This is why the Prophet


(sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) advised us to eat and drink little, where he said: "The Son of


Aadam does not fill a vessel worse than his stomach." [Reported by Ahmad, An-Nasaa’ee


and Ibn Maajah]





And in Saheeh Muslim, Handhala Al-Usaidee (raa), who was one of the scribes of Allaah’s


Messenger, said to the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) : "Handhala has become a


hypocrite." So Allaah’s Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) said: "Why is that?" He


said: "O Messenger of Allaah, when we are with you, you remind us of the Hellfire and


Paradise, as if we see them with our own eyes. But when we depart from you, we meet


our wives and our children and our homes and we forget much (of what we heard from


you)." In the last part of the hadeeth, the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) said to him:


"But O Handhala, there is a time for this and a time for that (three times)." Abu


Sulaymaan Ad-Daraanee said: "Indeed, when the soul hungers and thirsts, the heart softens


and becomes pure. And when it is fed, the heart becomes blinded."


And from the wisdom behind fasting is that the person who has wealth is caused to realize the


blessing of wealth that Allaah has bestowed on him, such that Allaah blessed him with food,


drink and sexual intercourse. Many people are deprived of these things, so he should praise


Allaah for these blessings and thank Him for granting him them. And he should remember his


brother who is poor and who probably goes through the day starved and hungry. So he should


be generous to him and give him charity so that he can clothe his barrenness and satisfy his


hunger.





And from the wisdom behind fasting is that it trains one to curb the soul, and it gives one


strength to withhold his soul by its bridle, such that one can govern it and lead it towards that


which is good for it and what will make it prosper. This is because the soul commands one to


do evil, except for those souls that my Lord has mercy on. So when a person undoes and lets


go of his (soul’s) bridle, the soul lands him into many dangers. But when he controls it and


curbs it, he is able to lead it to the highest of levels and the greatest of goals.





And from the wisdom of fasting is that the soul is broken down and restricted from having


pride, to the point that it humbles itself to the truth and softens itself before the creation. This


is because eating, drinking and having sexual intercourse with women -all of these things


bring about insolence, arrogance, vanity and pride over people and over the truth. The soul


preoccupies itself with trying to obtain these things because of its need for them. So when it


obtains these things, the soul feels like it has conquered what it desired and so it falls into the


happiness and proudness that is condemned. And this is a cause for its destruction. Only those


whom Allaah protects are saved from this.





And from the wisdom behind fasting is that the passageways of blood (in the body) become


narrow due to hunger and thirst, so therefore the passageways of the Devil in the human body


also become narrower. This is since the Devil flows through the son of Adam like the flowing


of blood, as is authentically recorded in the two Saheeh collections. So by fasting, the


whisperings of the Devil are subdued and the strength of one’s desires and anger are


subjugated. This is why the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) said: "O young men!


Whoever amongst you can afford it, should get married, for it is the best means for


lowering one’s gaze and the best way of keeping (one’s) private parts chaste. But


whoever is not able to marry, then let him fast, for it has protection."





And from the wisdom behind fasting are the health benefits that come as a result of it, which


are attained by in-taking little food, allowing the digestive system to rest for a specified time,


which lets excess wastes and excrements that are harmful to the body be discharged.





So how great and profound is the wisdom of Allaah, and how beneficial are His


commandments to His creatures!





O Allaah, give us comprehension of Your Religion and allow us to understand the inner


secrets of Your commandments. Rectify for us the affairs of our Religion and our worldly


life. And forgive us and our parents and all the Muslims, by Your mercy, O Most Merciful.


And may the peace and blessings of Allaah be on Muhammad (saws) and on his family and


all his Companions.


Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Saalih Al-'Uthaimeen



Hummus — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 - 18:34

I'm going to spend some time reading this for inspiration, but i wish it looked more inviting with less gaps. (I'm not sure if you can change that though).